Wheelbarrow.



No. 705,406. Patented .luly 22, |902.

W. A. HOUSE & W. F. HOSKEN.

WHEELBABRUW. (Aplucmon Alea Nov. 19, 1901.)

(Ilo Model.)

m: News PErsRs co.. PHO-rauwe. wAsmNaToN. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE."

WILL ALEXANDER HOUSE AND WILLIAM FRANCIS HOSKEN, OF COVINGTON,

KENTUCKY.

WH EELBARROW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,406, dated J' u1y'2`2,^1902.

Application filed November 19| 1901. Serial No. 82,858. (No model.)

wheelbarrows; and the object is to provide a,

wheelbarrow of simple construction that may be readily adjusted to fit or hold Y articles of different sizes, such as milk-cans, barrels, stoves, dsc.

We will describe a wheelbarrow embodying our invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar charactersof reference indieate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a wheelbarrow embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing an axle-bearing and pivot-bolt employed..

The wheelbarrow comprises two handles 5 6, which may be made of wood, and in such event it is preferable to face them with iron strips 7. These handles at the forward ends are pivoted between yoke-plates 8 and 9, the plate 8 being at the top while the plate 9 is at the bottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. At their cross-bar portion these plates 8 and 9 are connected together by bolts 10, which preferably pass through metal sleeves 1l, the ends of which abut, respectively, against the inner surfaces of the upper and lower plates, thus preventing any possible movement of the plates toward each other. Pivotbolts 12 pass through the plates 8 and 9 and also through openings in the handles, and at their lower ends these bolts are provided with eyes 13, which form bearings for the axle 14 of the wheel 15. Springgyielding metal straps 16 extend forward from the handles 5 and 6 and are pivotally connected together at their forward ends, as shown at 17.

Rearward of the wheel the handles are provided with stop-pins 18 to prevent a barrel or other article from rolling or sliding down against the wheel. These pins extend in both directions, as it is designed that the wheelbarrow may be turned either side up, as by turning it in the reverse position to that shown in Fig. 2 the handles will be brought closer to the ground, making the Yloading of heavy boxes or barrels much easier.

The handles are adjustable toward and from each other for the purpose of accommodating them to articles of different sizes. When moved toward each other, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the spring-straps 16 will yield and also turn on their pivot 17, and whenv the handles are released they will be automatically thrown outward or separated by the distending of said spring-straps.

This wheelbarrow may be made at a comparatively small cost, and when not in use it may be folded closely together, and therefore vwill require but very little space for storage,

as it can be stood up in a corner.

While the free ends of the handle are engaged with the ground, they will'serve as skids up which barrels orV the like may be rolled.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A wheelbarrow, comprising handles, a yoke-plate,^pivot-bolts passing through said yoke-plate and through the handles, eyes formed on the ends of said bolts, a wheel havin gits axle-bearings in said eyes, and a springyielding connectionbetween the forward ends of the handles, substantially as specified.

2. A wheelbarrow, comprising handles, a yoke-plate, pivot-bolts passing through said yoke-plate and through the handles, eyes formed on the ends of said bolts, a wheel having its axle-bearings in said eyes, springplates extended forward frornthe handles, and pivotal connections between said plates, substantially as specified. Y

3. A wheelbarrow, comprising, handles, spring-yielding connections between the forward ends of the handles, yoke-plates engag ing against the upper and lower sides thereof, said plates being bolted together, pivot-bolts passing through the handles and through said plates, eyes on said bolts, and a wheel having its axle-bearings in said eyes, substantially as specified.

4. A wheelbarrow, comprising handles, yoke-plates engaging against the upper and lower sides thereof at the forward ends, bolts passing through openings in the cross-bars of said yoke-plates, tubes or sleeves surrounding the bolts between the plates, pivot-bolts passing through said yoke-plates and through the handles, eyes on said pivot-bolts, a springyielding connection between the forward ends of the handles and a wheel having its axlebearings in said eyes, substantially as speciiied. 

